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Beowulf: a translation and commentary, together with Sellic spell
By J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien. 2014
Early prose translation (1926) from the Old English by the esteemed Oxford classicist and author of The Lord of the…
Rings (DB 47486, 47487, 47488) trilogy. This volume, edited by Tolkien's son Christopher, also contains extensive commentary on the text and its world, and a short tale by the author. Some violence. 1926The Mabinogion (Oxford World's Classics)
By Sioned Davies. 2007
Eleven medieval Welsh tales with themes of Celtic mythology and Arthurian romance, love and betrayal, shape-shifting and enchantment, conflict and…
retribution. Translation by Sioned Davies based on two manuscripts dated between 1382 and c. 1410, both rooted in the oral tradition of storytellers. 2007The Golden Fleece and the heroes who lived before Achilles (Looking Glass library)
By Padraic Colum, Willy Pogany. 2010
Recounts the adventures in ancient Greece of Jason and his brave Argonauts, who sought the famous Golden Fleece. Includes mythical…
tales of Orpheus, Atalanta, Theseus, and Pandora and her secret box. Introduction by Rick Riordan. Originally published in 1921. For grades 5-8 and older readers. Newbery Honor. 2010Shahnameh: the Persian book of kings (Penguin classics)
By Dick Davis, Abolqasem Ferdowsi, Firdawsī. 2006
Persian national epic completed in 1010. Covers Persian history from its mythical beginnings to the acceptance of the Zoroastrian faith,…
Alexander the Great's invasion, and the seventh-century Arab Muslim conquest. Emphasizes the importance of bloodline in the legitimate succession of kings. Translation by Dick Davis. Some violence. 2006Beowulf
By Michael Morpurgo, Michael Foreman. 2006
A retelling in prose of the Anglo-Saxon epic about the great warrior Beowulf's heroic efforts to save the people of…
Heorot Hall from several terrifying monsters, including Grendel; Grendel's mother, an old sea-hag; and the death-dragon of the deep. For grades 6-9. 2006Beowulf: Dragon Slayer
By Rosemary Sutcliff, Charles Keeping. 1961
In Denmark long ago, the mighty warrior Beowulf conquers first the monster Grendel and then Sea-Hag--Grendel's mother--in an undersea struggle.…
Returning to his homeland, Beowulf becomes king and dies protecting his people from the wrath of the Fire-Drake. Narrative version of the Old English epic poem. For grades 5-8. 1961Witches and witch-hunts: a history of persecution (Blue Sky Press Novel)
By Milton Meltzer, Barry Moser. 1999
Examines witch-hunts around the world from medieval Europe to the present day. Reveals how innocent people become accused of imaginary…
crimes due to fear, ignorance, and mass hysteria. Includes the Salem witch trials, Shakespeare's witches, and twentieth-century examples of persecution. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1999The witches of Eastwick
By John Updike. 1984
A witty, audacious novel about three modern-day witches living in Eastwick, Rhode Island, in the 1960s. Divorced and in their…
thirties, they would eventually like to conjure up new husbands for themselves. But their powers remain largely unfocused until a rich, vulgar, sexy stranger moves to town. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1984Seize the story: a handbook for teens who like to write
By Victoria Hanley. 2008
Presents creative-writing tips and exercises, from freewriting to understanding the elements of fiction. Provides examples for character development, motivation, and…
perspective. Assesses difficult aspects of writing fiction, such as creating the setting and mood, and infusing your style and voice into the story. For junior and senior high readers. 2008The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture
By Glen Weldon. 2016
A witty, intelligent cultural history from NPR book critic Glen Weldon explains Batman's rises and falls throughout the ages--and what…
his story tells us about ourselves.Since his creation, Batman has been many things: a two-fisted detective; a planet-hopping gadabout; a campy Pop-art sensation; a pointy-eared master spy; and a grim and gritty ninja of the urban night. For more than three quarters of a century, he has cycled from a figure of darkness to one of lightness and back again; he's a bat-shaped Rorschach inkblot who takes on the various meanings our changing culture projects onto him. How we perceive Batman's character, whether he's delivering dire threats in a raspy Christian Bale growl or trading blithely homoerotic double-entendres with partner Robin on the comics page, speaks to who we are and how we wish to be seen by the world. It's this endlessly mutable quality that has made him so enduring. And it's Batman's fundamental nerdiness--his gadgets, his obsession, his oath, even his lack of superpowers--that uniquely resonates with his fans who feel a fiercely protective love for the character. Today, fueled by the internet, that breed of passion for elements of popular culture is everywhere. Which is what makes Batman the perfect lens through which to understand geek culture, its current popularity, and social significance. In The Caped Crusade, with humor and insight, Glen Weldon, book critic for NPR and author of Superman: The Unauthorized Biography, lays out Batman's seventy-eight-year cultural history and shows how he has helped make us who we are today and why his legacy remains so strong.The Art of Warfare and Fantasy Writing
By Nadia Hleb, Ricardo Cebrián Salé. 2016
This is not one of those books that suggests reading Sun Tzu's The Art of War even on the toilet,…
but rather gives practical tips to help inexperienced writers with their battles… With the help of various acclaimed authors and real historical examples, you’ll learn: *What to keep in mind when designing a battle *What types of weapons exist and why they’re used *Different real tactics that you can apply *Different options for narrating a battleThe Grey Horse
By R. A. MacAvoy. 1987
Set against the colorful and magical backdrop of Ireland, The Grey Horse chronicles a time when the Irish people suffered…
under harsh English overlords who sought to destroy their culture and way of life. In the Irish town of Carraroe, a magnificent, completely gray stallion appears. The horse brings with him the promise of better times and magical happenings, for he is actually the shape-shifted form of Ruairi MacEibhir, journeyed to such a time of danger in order to win the hand of the woman he loves.Leprechauns: The Myths, Legends, & Lore
By Bob Curran. 2017
Explore the magic, mischief, and mystery behind Ireland’s most iconic and beloved mythical creature: the leprechaun. Leprechauns have been at…
the heart of Irish culture for years, capturing our hearts and minds alike—but how much do we really know about the leprechaun, anyway? Often depicted as a little bearded man who partakes in mischief, no one knows if he is a fallen angel, diminished god, or son of fairies? What does he do all day? And what’s the story behind that hidden pot of gold? In Leprechauns, prominent folklorist Bob Curran looks at the origins of this hero of Irish lore. He explores the superstitions surrounding the leprechaun and his enduring place in popular culture, and turns the spotlight on the “real” leprechaun—enigmatic, complex, and contradictory. The perfect read for St. Patrick’s Day—or any time you wish to delve into the thrilling world of a timeless legend—Leprechauns is an essential addition to the collection of all lovers of myth and folklore.The Slaughterman's Daughter: Winner of the Wingate Prize 2021
By Yaniv Iczkovits. 2020
A SUNDAY TIMES MUST READS PICK"Boundless imagination and a vibrant style . . . a heroine of unforgettable grit" DAVID…
GROSSMAN"A story of great beauty and surprise" GARY SHTEYNGARTThe townsfolk of Motal, an isolated, godforsaken town in the Pale of Settlement, are shocked when Fanny Keismann - devoted wife, mother of five, and celebrated cheese-maker - leaves her home at two hours past midnight and vanishes into the night.True, the husbands of Motal have been vanishing for years, but a wife and mother? Whoever heard of such a thing. What on earth possessed her?Could it have anything to do with Fanny's missing brother-in-law, who left her sister almost a year ago and ran away to Minsk, abandoning their family to destitution and despair?Or could Fanny have been lured away by Zizek Breshov, the mysterious ferryman on the Yaselda river, who, in a strange twist of events, seems to have disappeared on the same night?Surely there can be no link between Fanny and the peculiar roadside murder on the way to Telekhany, which has left Colonel Piotr Novak, head of the Russian secret police, scratching his head. Surely a crime like that could have nothing to do with Fanny Keismann, however the people of Motal might mutter about her reputation as a vilde chaya, a wild animal . . .Surely not.Translated from the Hebrew by Orr ScharfSister to Sister: the perfect addictive read for 2021
By Olivia Hayfield. 2021
'Rich people behaving badly' BooklistThe battle lines are drawn . . .Following the scandalous revelations about his love life, disgraced…
media mogul Harry Rose is searching for redemption. His daughters - bright, winsome Eliza and dark, difficult Maria - have taken over his beloved company and are making some major changes. Guided by Harry, Eliza navigates life as Rose Corp's new queen. But Maria is standing in her way. And then there's the distraction of Eliza's childhood playmate, the twinkly-eyed Rob Studley, and the unresolved death of her mother . . . After a stellar start, things take a turn for the worse and ultimately Eliza will have to make a choice: career, or love?Loosely based on the turbulent reigns of Tudor queens Mary and Elizabeth, this is a scandalous tale of love, power and betrayal . . .Praise for Olivia Hayfield 'Ingenious and addictive' Francesca Hornak 'A delicious read' Renee Rosen'Racy & pacy!' Nicky Pellegrino'The perfect escape' The Listener'An amusing, smart and oddly thought-provoking read with glamour and great heart' Kete: New Books from Aotearoa'A must-read for history buffs' Woman's Day'An addictively readable novel . . . there is lots to love in this racy romp about the lives of the rich and fabulous' New Zealand Woman's Weekly'A fun and entertaining read . . . non-stop Tudor intrigue!' An Historian About TownThe Plague Charmer: A gripping story of dark motives, love and survival in times of plague
By Karen Maitland. 2016
1361. An unlucky thirteen years after the Black Death, plague returns to England.'Fear and hysteria are portrayed with claustrophobic skill'…
THE TIMES'Dark and enthralling... with an unexpected hero' JULIE COHENFrom the bestselling author of Company of Liars, Karen Maitland, The Plague Charmer is a darkly compelling novel following a stranger who arrives in an isolated community in the grips of a medieval pandemic. When the sickness reaches the village of Porlock Weir, who stands to lose the most? And who will seize this moment for their own dark ends?The dwarf who talks in riddles? The mother who fears for her children? The wild woman from the sea? Or two lost boys, far away from home?PESTILENCE IS IN THE AIR. BUT SOMETHING DARKER LURKS IN THE DEPTHS. Why readers are gripped by The Plague Charmer'Its horrors are vividly told but with an underlying sense of human resilience and hope''A real page turner''The best and worst of human behaviour in troubled times''Poignant, shocking and haunting''It was so easy to be drawn into this world...'The Nanny and the Iceberg: A Novel
By Ariel Dorfman. 1999
Conceived the night of Che Guevara's burial in 1967, Gabriel McKenzie is inextricably bound up in the history and politics…
of his native Chile. Twenty-four years on, and still a virgin, Gabriel returns from Manhattan exile to confront his legacy: a Don Juan father and a country preparing for the five-hundredth anniversary of America's "discovery." Into Gabriel's quest for manhood and identity enter one iceberg, a faithful if eccentric nanny, and a whole host of fantastical characters.An Eye of Death
By George Rees. 2005
Fast-paced and populated with a cast of rogues, actors and playwrights this murder mystery offers an enthralling read and the…
true flavour of Elizabethan London.Elizabethan playwright Dekker lives a fast, furious, and exciting existence in London, skirting poverty, danger, and the love of a good woman. He finds work as an adapter at Philip Henslowe's theatrical company and as a book-holder at Essex House - before being watched by Christopher Marlowe and others as politics intrude.Theft of a hidden cipher and murder of a local constable keep him in trouble. Able plotting and namedropping will appeal to fans of Elizabethan theater and Simon Hawke's Shakespearean mysteries.The Spider (The UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY Series, Book 2)
By Leo Carew. 2019
After the critically acclaimed epic fantasy THE WOLF comes THE SPIDER, book two in Leo Carew's UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY…
seriesA battle has been won, but the war still wages on . . .Roper, the Black Lord of the northern people, may have vanquished the Suthern army at the Battle of Harstathur. But the greatest threat to his people lies in the hands of more shadowy forces.In the south, the disgraced Bellamus bides his time. Learning that the young Lord Roper is planning to invade the southern lands, Bellamus conspires with his Queen to unleash a weapon so deadly it could wipe out Roper's people altogether.And at a time when Roper needs his friends more than ever, treachery from within puts the lives of those he loves in mortal danger . . .WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE BREATHTAKING WORK OF LEO CAREW:'The next George RR Martin' - Mail on Sunday'Imagine Game of Thrones rewritten by John le Carré . . . A marvellously accomplished debut' - Guardian'A work of extraordinary imagination and perhaps the most captivating first novel I've ever read' - Michael Dobbs, author of House of CardsSister to Sister: the perfect page-turning holiday read for 2021
By Olivia Hayfield. 2021
'Rich people behaving badly' BooklistThe battle lines are drawn . . .Following the scandalous revelations about his love life, disgraced…
media mogul Harry Rose is searching for redemption. His daughters - bright, winsome Eliza and dark, difficult Maria - have taken over his beloved company and are making some major changes. Guided by Harry, Eliza navigates life as Rose Corp's new queen. But Maria is standing in her way. And then there's the distraction of Eliza's childhood playmate, the twinkly-eyed Rob Studley, and the unresolved death of her mother . . . After a stellar start, things take a turn for the worse and ultimately Eliza will have to make a choice: career, or love?Loosely based on the turbulent reigns of Tudor queens Mary and Elizabeth, this is a scandalous tale of love, power and betrayal . . .Praise for Olivia Hayfield 'Ingenious and addictive' Francesca Hornak 'A delicious read' Renee Rosen'Racy & pacy!' Nicky Pellegrino'The perfect escape' The Listener'An amusing, smart and oddly thought-provoking read with glamour and great heart' Kete: New Books from Aotearoa'A must-read for history buffs' Woman's Day'An addictively readable novel . . . there is lots to love in this racy romp about the lives of the rich and fabulous' New Zealand Woman's Weekly'A fun and entertaining read . . . non-stop Tudor intrigue!' An Historian About Town